The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has taken over investigations into the retrieval of two AK-47 assault rifles at Jantong-Daboase, near Salaga in the Northern Region.

Seven persons who were arrested in connection with the case have been transferred to the CID Headquarters in Accra for further investigations.

The suspects are Mohammed Saani Muftaw, 22; Issah Suale, 22; Ibrahim Iddrisu Wunpini, 50, and four others whose names were not given by the police.

Also found in their possession were a computer and a laptop said to contain pictures and training kits of the Islamic State (ISIS), as well as how the ISIS decapitate its victims.

Recruitment

The suspects, who lived at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale, are believed to be involved in recruiting and indoctrinating young people on issues bordering on Islamic extremism.

According to the police, Muftaw and Suale were earlier arrested at Jantong-Daboase on a motorbike with a sack containing two AK 47 assault rifles by some residents of the village on December 24, 2015 and were sent to the chief’s palace at Salaga.

During interrogation, Muftaw and Suale allegedly said they were going to learn how to use the AK 47 assault rifles.

According to the police, Wunpini went to the chief’s palace to plead for the release of the two young men.

Police

The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the story to the Daily Graphic, said the four other men were arrested at the chief’s palace.

He explained that the four men could not give any reasons why they were at the palace, especially so when they had nothing doing there.

He said it was later established during investigations that the suspects lived at Lamashegu, a suburb of the Tamale metropolis.